Welcome to the Dissertation House

The Dissertation House is comprised of a series of workshops, meetings, and seminars that are held on college campuses and at conferences to facilitate successful completion of the doctoral degree. The workshops emphasize writing the dissertation, preparing for the defense, and communicating with faculty. The Dissertation House is a program of the National Science Foundation’s PROMISE: Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) and is supported by the Graduate Schools at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), the University of Maryland College Park, and the University of Maryland Baltimore.  Growth of the program is also attributed to the Council of Graduate School’s Ph.D. Completion Project.

PROMISE Dissertation House Summer 2017 DH Online. #ThinkBigDiversity — Join (free) from any location in the world; any school!

It doesn’t matter where you are … you can make progress on that dissertation. You want to  … you NEED to finish that doctorate. You’ve been working hard, your family and friends are waiting, but more importantly, you have things to do … a world to influence, change to effect, mountains to move. Welcome to the Dissertation House On-line, Summer 2017 season!

Join us! Click the link below to enter the DH online.

DH Online Blog – Summer 2017 Season

 

This page serves as the announcement, but the page link above will lead you to the DH Online Blog where you can post your comments, encouragement, and goals. It  will be active from July 2017 – December 2017.  You can participate in the online Dissertation House from any part of the world.

 

This is your season … come on, you can do it.

Click the DH Online Blog Summer 2017 link and join in!

 While in-person Dissertation House participants will be most active on the DH online’s page from July 11 – 14, 2017, you don’t have to wait for them. This post is being written on July 1, 2017. Start today. Yes, we want you to have some career-life balance and enjoy the holiday, but don’t let that stop you from getting at least a little bit of work done too.

 

Summer Dissertation House @ UMBC July 11 – 14, 2017

The Summer Dissertation House is coming to UMBC, July 11-14, 2017. Graduate students who plan to participate should follow the application procedures.

Open application period: Early bird May 22, 2017 – June 2, 2017. Late registration June 3, 2017 – June 18, 2017 (Applications received during the early bird period will have priority.)

(Please note that there are only 15 to 18 slots for this event, consider applying early)

Applications received after June 18, 2017, will be considered for the DH waiting list. More information about the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/about/

• The Dissertation House runs from 9 AM – 5 PM, for four days, Tuesday, July 11 through Friday, July 14, 2017
• Students must plan to attend the full session, for each of the 4 days.
• Daily schedule includes 2 mini-lectures, and 5 hours of writing per day.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and a snack will be served daily.

The July 11-14, 2017, Dissertation House is only available to UMBC’s graduate students who can attend in-person, however, the online version is open to anyone, from any institution, world-wide!

This version of the Dissertation House is open to all graduate students, in all disciplines.
There are 15 to 18 spaces available for the Dissertation House.

Details regarding eligibility can be found on the application page of the website for the Dissertation House. Subscribe to the page https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/
Read about The Dissertation House in UMBC’s Alumni Magazine: Byrne, R. (2011, Fall) “The Write Stuff”, UMBC Magazine. p. 12 and the research paper, “The Dissertation House Model: Doctoral Student Experiences Coping and Writing in a Shared Knowledge Community.,” in a special issue of the journal, CBE – Life Sciences Education (LSE) devoted to “Broadening Participation in the Life Sciences.” http://www.lifescied.org/content/15/3/ar34.full.pdf+html

Please login to MyUMBC, click “I can attend” here: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/50087 , *AND* follow the
application procedures on the main website for the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

Blog your progress! Winter 2017 Dissertation House Blog. All invited.

The Winter 2017 Dissertation House starts today at UMBC. All participants will be blogging daily, but anyone can join, from any location in the world. Are you working on your dissertation? Join in!

Click here:

Winter 2017 DH Blog

Aren’t you ready to finish and cross over to the other side? 

More about The Dissertation House:

UMBC NEWS: New research highlights Dissertation House as an effective support model for minority STEM Ph.D. candidates

The book: Sisters in the Dissertation House

The journal article: The Dissertation House Model: Doctoral Student Experiences Coping and Writing in a Shared Knowledge Community

 

 

Photo Credit: Andibeit

Winter 2017 Dissertation House

The Winter Dissertation House is coming to UMBC (January 17-20, 2017). Graduate students who plan to participate should follow the application procedures on the application webpage for the Dissertation House (below). Open application period: November 29, 2016– January 13, 2017. (Please note that there are only 12 to 15 slots for this event, consider applying early). Applications received after January 6, 2016 will be considered for the DH waiting list.

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Event: Winter 2017 Dissertation House

Dates: January 17, 2017 – January 20, 2017

Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day

Location: University of Maryland Baltimore County, Commons 328 and Commons 329

Registration: Please login to MyUMBC (http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/45501), click “I can attend” below, *AND* follow the application procedures on the main website for the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/. Application period to apply to attend the Dissertation House: Nov. 29, 2016 – Dec. 30, 2016

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Event Details: 

• The Dissertation House runs from 9 AM – 5PM, for four days, Tuesday, January 17 through Friday, January 20.
• Students must plan to attend the full session, for each of the 4 days. 
• Daily schedule includes 2 mini-lectures, and 5 hours of writing per day.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and a snack will be served daily.
• The Dissertation House is free for UMBC’s graduate students.
• There are 15 to 18 spaces available for the Dissertation House. 
• Details regarding eligibility can be found on the application page of the website for the Dissertation House.

Read about The Dissertation House in UMBC’s Alumni Magazine: Byrne, R.  (2011, Fall) “The Write Stuff”, UMBC Magazine. p. 12. More information about the DissertationHouse: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/about/

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Dissertation House Application Procedures

Both the on-campus setting and the retreat setting provide Dissertation House participants with productive and rewarding scholastic engagement.  Students who participate in this program will spend each day thinking, writing, and sharing ideas about their doctoral dissertations.  Students will learn effective time-management skills; learn how to set small manageable goals, and will meet with a dissertation coach in one-on-one consultations to discuss and address obstacles that might prevent them completing their degrees.

The Dissertation House period can span either a Tuesday – Friday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m., non-residential) or a Friday – Sunday weekend (includes evening sessions) commitment to focus on the doctoral dissertation.  The Dissertation House activities focus on areas where students typically have difficulty: conceptualizing a topic, writing a literature review, transitioning from a proposal to a dissertation, analyzing data, writing the last chapter, and editing.
Students may apply to attend the next Dissertation House during open application enrollment, by submitting two parts of an application.

PART I:

I. Submit a brief description (maximum 2 pages, font size 11-12 point 1 inch margins) that describes the project that you wish to accomplish during the Dissertation Houseperiod.  Applications will neither be reviewed nor accepted outside of the application enrollment period.

PART II:

II. Please use the following guidelines  for the application:

(1) Summary of the project, including research question(s), data or texts, and method

(2) Amount completed on the project to date

(3) Any obstacles that you are encountering that hinder completion of the dissertation.

(4) Include the following header information with the description:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone numbers (home, office, and fax)
• E-mail address
• Academic Program and Year in the program

Dates/Location: January 19 to 22th (Tuesday – Friday), 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Dissertation House will be held in COMM 329 (for Dissertation House) and COMM 332 (for one-on-one sessions).

Application Enrollment Period: Application can be submitted within a designated 2-week period, usually scheduled 1-2 months prior to the next Dissertation House session.  Email applications to promisestaff@gmail.com.  Please use the words “Dissertation House” in the subject line of your email.

Selection Process: Eighteen participants will be selected for participation in the Dissertation House.  The following applicants will have priority:  (1) Applicants who plan to finish the Ph.D. within the next 6 months; (2) Individuals who are working on dissertations and theses rather than a proposal; (3) Applicants who submit earliest; and (4) Individuals who appear most able to benefit from the services offered at the Dissertation House.

If your application is accepted, you will receive an acceptance notice via email and additional details about the Dissertation House.  All students, including those who have not applied or those who are not selected, have the option to participate in the next online challenge, a virtual version of the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/winter-2016-challenge/

Oct.7, 2016 – Oct. 8, 2016: Dissertation House for Non-Traditional Students and UMBC Employees

If you are an employee of UMBC (50% time or more) or a “Non-Traditional” student, and if you are working on your graduate school courses, proposal, or dissertation, then this event is for you! We’ve worked with our UMBC employees who are also graduate students at UMBC, College Park, Northeastern, and other institutions. This session will have support, coaching, and food will be provided for you on both days.

You work hard every day to serve others on our campus! You may be supporting your family members, or you have decided to take some time for yourself to reach your goals.  Now, let us work with you to finish your graduate degree. This version of the “Dissertation House” was created just for you!

Dissertation House for UMBC Employees and Non-Traditional Students
Friday, 10/7/2016,   9:00 – 5:00 PM (Part I),
Saturday, 10/8/2016, 9:00 – 12:00 PM (Part II), 

Location: Albin O. Kuhn Library, Room 767

RSVP by clicking “I can attend” below and apply via the Dissertation House’s website:

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/42532

https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

Please send your application to promisestaff@gmail.com by September 15, 2016. 

Sisters in the Dissertation House – Dessert Discussion: Fri. Aug. 19, 2016 #ThinkBigDiversity

Building upon the inaugural idea of Dr. Shanna Smith (Visiting Professor of English at Jackson State University, former GA for the PROMISE AGEP and PROMISE Peer Mentor at College Park), and the book “Sisters in the Dissertation House” by Dr. Jennifer Bacon, we are happy to present our 2016 event: “Sisters in the Dissertation House – Dessert Discussion 2016.” This event will be held at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve, from 8:30 PM – 10 PM on Friday, August 19, 2016.  This event is part of the larger 2016 PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI).  (Details and registration for the SSI:  http://bit.ly/PROMISESSI2016)

This year’s discussants are both featured in the book, and they have been friends since they were graduate students together in the PROMISE Dissertation House: Dr. Alexis Williams (Teaching and Learning Transformation Center – TLTC, University of Maryland College Park, Alumna: College Park), and Dr. Patricia Ordóñez (Faculty, Computer Science, University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras).

The discussion will be held in a hotel suite at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve, and will not be shared publicly. If you are interested in attending, please send email to PROMISEstaff@gmail.com with the subject line: “Sisters in the Dissertation House 2016.” You will receive an email with the room number closer to the date.

You may purchase the book from Amazon here:  https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Dissertation-House-Narrative/dp/1581072686.

 

 

 

 

July 2016 Writing Workshops w/lectures on impact factor and “false demon of perfection”

Building upon the foundation of the Dissertation House, we continue to host workshops for students and postdocs who are working on other projects, e.g., grant proposals, publications, research portfolios, job applications. This week, by popular demand, we’re bringing “Writing for Publication” back via a series of “Writing Workshops” and we’re including two embedded afternoon seminars, by Dr. Kevin Omland. Here is the schedule.

• WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 & THURSDAY, JULY 7. (For Grad Students & Postdocs) – Writing for Publication Workshop: From July 6 to July 7, 9 am – 5 pm, –  Commons 331. For those working on publications, papers, applications, grants: Please join this writing space. We will provide the work space, breakfast, and lunch. RSVP: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/40161 [This event will include a goal-setting session, tips for writing, mini-lectures, and time for writing.]

• WEDNESDAY, JULY 6. (For Grad Students & Postdocs) – Understanding Impact Factor: A mini lecture seminar held on July 6, 9:30 am to 12 pm, Commons 331. The speaker, Dr. Kevin Omland, Professor of Biological Sciences, will be talking about how the publications are ranked. RSVP here:  http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/40162 [Students who register for the July 6 & 7 “Writing Workshop, listed above, are automatically participants in this session.]

• THURSDAY, JULY 7. (For Grad Students & Postdocs) – Avoid the False Demon of Perfection: “Writing for Publication” seminar. It will be held on July 7, 1 pm to 3 pm, in the Commons 331. The speaker, Dr. Kevin Omland, has more than 50 publications, that have been cited more than 3000 times. RSVP here: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/40163 [Students who register for the July 6 & 7 “Writing Workshop, listed above, are automatically participants in this session.]

Posting Goals and Blogging

Participants are asked to post their goals on this page, below (Name, School, Department, Goal for the two days). Those are attend the workshop are asked to post comments to share what they’ve learned. Please use the hashtags #WritingWorkshop, #ImpactFactor #PerfectionDemon in your posts. Thank you for joining us. If you are not able to join in person, you may join us virtually. Let us know who you are, and what you plan to accomplish over the next two days. (Feel free to take a look a the Dissertation House’s “Summer Challenge 2016” to see how this process works. If you are working on your dissertation, please use that page for your posting.)

 

The Dissertation House Online, open now! All invited

We’re so pleased that the PROMISE Dissertation House sessions are so popular, and we are especially thankful to all of the people who have been involved and who have finished their dissertations as part of the DH! Since space is limited, and since we know that everyone has busy schedules, we maintain a Dissertation House online for those who can’t join us in person. All participants in the DH who are with us in person must blog daily while they are in the session, but we invite all and all who desire to join us to come into the “DH Online.” We’ll see you there! https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/summer-2016-challenge/

We’re spending part of our holiday answering messages, and we’re looking forward to assisting you as you jump in to meet your writing goals!

 

The Dissertation House – Summer 2016 Challenge is open! Post! Let us know what you’re doing. Are you working on… https://t.co/y1F02ZIl1z

— PROMISE: MD’s AGEP (@PROMISE_AGEP) July 2, 2016

 

 

Working on dissertations? Join coach @drwcarter & me for our @PROMISE_AGEP Dissertation House #SummerChallenge https://t.co/Xj73eaZCsP

— Renetta G. Tull (@Renetta_Tull) July 2, 2016

 

Coaches: Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale, Dr. Renetta G. Tull

University System of Maryland (USM) Dissertation House at the PROMISE Summer Success Institute – August 18-19, 2016 #ThinkBigDiversity

Hanover, MD.– Summer Success Institute (SSI) 2015 Conference. Photos by Cheriss May, http://www.cherissmay.com

University System of Maryland (USM) Dissertation House at the PROMISE Summer Success Institute – August 18-19, 2016 (with activities on 8/20-8/21) – The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, Hanover, Maryland. 

UMBC and PROMISE Maryland’s AGEP are sponsoring the 2016 system-wide Dissertation House for graduate students in STEM programs.  The writing and research retreat will take place at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve.   Lodging for 3 nights and meals are provided for student participants.   Twelve students from the USM system schools will be chosen to participate in this research and writing retreat.  http://www.thehotelarundel.com/. This event is available to graduate students at any school within the University System of Maryland: http://www.usmd.edu/institutions/.

 2016 PROMISE SSI Dissertation House Schedule (subject to updates):

Summer 2016 Dissertation House at UMBC

The Summer 2016 Dissertation House is coming to UMBC (July 5, 2016 to July 8, 2016)!  Students who participate in this program will spend each day thinking, writing, and sharing ideas about their doctoral dissertations.  Students will learn effective time-management skills; learn how to set small manageable goals, and will meet with a dissertation coach in one-on-one consultations to discuss and address obstacles that might prevent them completing their degrees.

HOW TO APPLY

Graduate students who plan to participate should follow the application procedure below: 

Winter 2016 Dissertation House

The Winter Dissertation House is coming to UMBC (January 19-22, 2016). Graduate students who plan to participate should follow the application procedures on the application webpage for the Dissertation House (below).

Open application period: December 8, 2015– January 6, 2016 

(Please note that there are only 12 to 15 slots for this event, consider applying early) 

Bilingual Teaching Opportunities and Faculty Positions at the Ana G. Mendez University in Wheaton, MD

Interested in teaching or becoming a faculty? Ivette Cruz and Sundia Nazario Cardona from Ana G. Mendez University in Wheaton, MD will come to campus to discuss about bilingual teaching opportunities and faculty positions! Please come to listen about these opportunities! Refreshments will be served. 

Registration

Attendees who are affiliated with UMBC:

• Please register at the myUMBC website

Attendees who are not affiliated with UMBC:

• Please comment on the following link to indicate your interest in coming: https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/?page_id=3272&preview=true&preview_id=3272

Dissertation House for Employees and Non-traditional Students, 10/16/2015 – 10/17/2015

If you are an employee of UMBC (50% time or more) or a “Non-Traditional” student, and if you are working on your graduate school courses, proposal, or dissertation, then this event is for you! We’ve worked with our UMBC employees who are also graduate students at UMBC, College Park, Northeastern, and other institutions.  This year, we are extending this opportunity to non-traditional students who are coming back to school or working full-time. This time is for you! This session will have support, coaching, and food will be provided for you on both days.

You work hard every day to serve others on our campus! You may be supporting your family members, or you have decided to take some time for yourself to reach your goals.  Now, let us work with you to finish your graduate degree. This version of the “Dissertation House” was created just for you!

Dissertation House for UMBC Employees and Non-Traditional Students
Friday, 10/16/15,   9:00 – 5:00 PM (Part I)
Saturday, 10/17/15, 10:00 – 3:00 PM (Part II)

Application: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

Graduate students who are at other schools within the University System of Maryland (http://www.usmd.edu/institutions/) may apply, and will be considered if there is space available.

A great night – Sisters in the Dissertation House. A great DH, sponsored by UMB

Sisters in the Dissertation House #Legacy @PROMISE_AGEP #TeamGetItDone #Reloaded #ThinkBigDiversity @drwestmoreland pic.twitter.com/SG38NGhj0Z

— Alexis Williams (@alexisinc) August 15, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

One post describes the event. It was a banner evening for the “Sisters in the Dissertaton House” discussion on Friday, August 14, 2015.

PROMISE also thanks its partner at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) for sponsoring the Dissertation House for the SSI, August 13-14, 2015.

“Sisters in The Dissertation House” book discussion and dessert session, Fri. 8/14, 8:30 PM @ The Hotel

Friday Night, August 14, 2015

8:30 PM – 10 PM

The Hotel at Arundel Preserve,  7795 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076

Book Discussion & Dessert Session: Sisters in the Dissertation House

Book author Dr. Jennifer Bacon will be discussing the “Sisters in The Dissertation House” book, based on the experiences of Maryland students who persisted through their dissertation process via the intervention and support system of the PROMISE Dissertation House. Dr. Bacon, a former professor at Iona College, is currently working on writing projects as a resident of Costa Rica. This session is open to women and men.

Moderator: Dr. Shanna L. Smith, former PROMISE College Park Assistant and current Frederick Douglass Teaching Fellow, English Department, Bloomsburg State University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Smith’s writing and poetry has been published, and she was a featured professor for Bloomsburg State University’s “Big Dog” Reading Series. Shanna L. Smith is author of “Being Neighborly: Performance in Seen It All and Done the Rest”, Pearl Cleage and Free Womanhood (McFarland & Company, 2012)

Discussants for the “Sisters in the Dissertation House” session at the 2015 SSI include women who were featured in the book:

• Dr. Alexis Williams (Human Development), Lecturer in the College of Education, and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center at College Park
• Dr. Sophoria “Nikki” Westmoreland (Mechanical Engineering) – former Visiting professor at the United States Naval Academy, and current Specialist at Accelerated Development & Support (ADS) Corporation, providing support for the Office of Naval Research.

To reserve a space, please register by sending email to

promisestaff@gmail.com

using the subject:

“SSI 2015 Sisters in the DH”

with the following information in the body of the message:

1) NAME, 2) School/Organization, 3) Phone #, 4) Reason for interest in the session.

This session will be held in a hotel suite. Details will only be released to those who have registered using the method above. 

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“Sisters in The Dissertation House” is published by New Forums Press, available at: http://newforums.com/our-titles/successful-faculty-development/scholarly-writing-publishing/sisters-dissertation-house-dissertation-narrative/.

Also available on Amazon:

Take a Dissertation Break at the UMBC Mind Spa

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Need a place to achieve career-life balance? A place to de-stress, relax, and rejuvenate? Come to the Mind Spa. The Mind Spa is a room that offers a stress-free environment to anyone who visits.  The ceiling is covered with fabric, … Continue reading →

The Summer 2015 Challenge is now online! Are you working? Post your goals!

Each summer we host a Dissertation House online that connects to participants in our in-person Dissertation Houses in Maryland. You don’t need to be a doctoral student in Maryland to join. You can be  student at any school in the world. The key is that we are in favor of forming a community to catapult you to the next level. Here is the link for the current installment:

https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/summerdh2015/

You’re invited! Join us!

Dissertation House at the 2015 PROMISE Summer Success Institute (SSI): Aug. 13-15

University System of Maryland (USM) Dissertation House at the PROMISE Summer Success Institute – August 13-15, 2015

The University of Maryland, Baltimore  and PROMISE Maryland’s AGEP are sponsoring a system-wide Dissertation House for graduate students in STEM programs.  The writing and research retreat will take place at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve.   Lodging for 2 nights and meals are provided for student participants.   Twelve students from the USM system schools will be chosen to participate in this research and writing retreat.  http://www.thehotelarundel.com/

 2015 PROMISE SSI Dissertation House Schedule:

• Thursday 8/13, 3:00 PM Hotel Check-in
• Thursday 8/13, 5:00 PM Dissertation House Opening Session, Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale (Dissertation Coach) 
• Thursday 8/13, 6 PM – 7 PM:  Dinner Meeting
• Thursday 8/13, 7 PM – 12 midnight: Work Session #1
• Friday 8/14, 8 AM – 9 AM: Breakfast
• Friday 8/14, 9 AM – 9:15 AM: Welcome – Dr. Erin Golembewski (UMB)
• Friday 8/14, 9:15 AM – 10 AM: Mini Lecture –  Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale
• Friday 8/14, 10 AM – 12 noon: Work Session #2
• Friday 8/14, 12 PM – 1PM: Working Lunch
• Friday 8/14, 1 PM – 2PM: “Writing Lab” Seminar with Clancy Clawson of the UMB Writing Center
• Friday 8/14, 2 PM – 6  PM Work Session #3
• Friday 8/14, 6 PM – 7  PM Dinner Meeting
• Friday 8/14, 7 PM -12 midnight Work Session #4
• Saturday 8/15, 8 AM – 3 PM: PROMISE Summer Success Institute Program, includes #ThinkBigDiversity breakout session for “Continuing Students.”
• Saturday 8/15, HOTEL Late checkout (time TBA)

OPTIONS

• SSI Suite – Hotel at Arundel Preserve: Friday 8/14, 8:30PM – 10 PM: Sisters in the Dissertation House Book Discussion & Dessert Session –  Optional DH activity, part of the PROMISE SSI, open to others outside of the DH event (sponsored by the PROMISE AGEP, with DH Alumni Dr. Jennifer Bacon and Dr. Shanna Smith)
• Students who want to stay until Sunday are encouraged to book an extra night on their own for a Saturday night – Sunday stay: Guests can call the hotel’s main line and reference “PROMISE AGEP SSI 2015” or group code “3065” to book remaining group discounted rates: 410-796-9830, http://hotelarundel.com/
• Anyone who stays Saturday-Sunday will have the option to have additional one-on-one, or small group mentoring sessions with Dr. Renetta Tull, PROMISE Director. 

Eligibility for the SSI Dissertation House:

1) Enrolled in a STEM graduate program (based on the NSF-supported fields per the NSFGRFP) at one of the schools within the University System of Maryland

2) Underrepresented according to the NSF Definition for AGEP, U.S. Citizen

Per NSF.gov: AGEP is committed to the national goal of increasing the numbers of underrepresented minorities (URMs), including those with disabilities, entering and completing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate education and postdoctoral training to levels representative of the available pool. URMs include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

This event is part of the 2015 PROMISE Summer Success Institute. Following the Dissertation House (DH) sessions on Thursday and Friday, all DH participants will be required to continue participation in the PROMISE SSI on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve:

https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/promise-summer-success-institute-ssi-august-15-2015/

All 12 participants will check in on Thursday, and check out on Saturday.

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TO APPLY: Follow the instructions outlined on the application page: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

DEADLINE: Friday, July 24, 2015

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The host for the 2015 USM-wide Dissertation House will be the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).

UMB’s Sr. Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Erin Golembewski, and the team from UMB (Coordinator –  LaNette Parson, Writing Center Coordinator – Clancy Clawson) welcome applicants from around the state to UMB’s 2015 PROMISE Dissertation House. As part of the PROMISE SSI Dissertation House structure, complimentary hotel lodging will be provided for DH participants. Students from western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, e.g., Frostburg University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Salisbury University, are particularly encouraged to participate. Learn more about PROMISE at UMB:

http://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/Current-Students/PROMISE-Program/

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Dissertation Coach: Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale

Summer Dissertation House (July 7-10, 2015)

The Summer Dissertation House is coming to UMBC, July 7-10 2015. Graduate students who plan to participate should follow the application procedures on the application webpage for the Dissertation House.

Open application period: Early bird May 20, 2015 – May 31, 2015. Late registration June 1, 2015 – June 7, 2015 (Applications received during the early bird period will have priority.)

(Please note that there are only 15 to 18 slots for this event, consider applying early)

Applications received after June 7, 2015 will be considered for the DH waiting list. More information about the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/about/

• The Dissertation House runs from 9 AM – 5PM, for four days, Tuesday, July 7 through Friday, July 10, 2015
• Students must plan to attend the full session, for each of the 4 days.
• Daily schedule includes 2 mini-lectures, and 5 hours of writing per day.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and a snack will be served daily.

The July 7-10, 2015 Dissertation House is only available to UMBC’s graduate students who can attend in-person, however, the online version is open to anyone, from any institution, world-wide!
This version of the Dissertation House is open to all graduate students, in all disciplines.
There are 15 to 18 spaces available for the Dissertation House.
Details regarding eligibility can be found on the application page of the website for the Dissertation House. Subscribe to the website: http://www.thedissertationhouse.com
Read about The Dissertation House in UMBC’s Alumni Magazine: Byrne, R. (2011, Fall) “The Write Stuff”, UMBC Magazine. p. 12

Please login to MyUMBC, click “I can attend” here: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/32556 , *AND* follow the
application procedures on the main website for the Dissertation House: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

In August, we will hold a consolidated, marathon version Dissertation House for STEM graduate students of the USM, during the PROMISE Summer Success Institute: https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/promise-summer-success-institute-ssi-august-15-2015/

The Dissertation Houses are co-sponsored by PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation (an AGEP-T project), The Graduate School at UMBC, and The Graduate School at The University of Maryland College Park.

“Create the $$$$ slide” – Scott Morgan @UMBC Saturday Brunch Seminar

This morning, Scott Morgan from DC’s The Morgan Group is the key speaker for our Saturday Brunch Seminar on public speaking and preparing presentations.

Morgan suggests that each person should have a “money slide” or a main idea that is featured in your slide deck. This is the slide that you use even if you only have two minutes to present. It is the slide that explains your main point to your committee, investors, employers during a job talk, etc.